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Although it seems like smartwatches have recently appeared, they have actually been around for a few decades. This is due to the fact that they were never popular, or affordable, until recently. With big name companies such as Fitbit and Apple creating the latest models of watches, they have now become a trend.

Smartwatches can be used for fitness purposes, such as tracking heart rate and steps. They can also be used for managing media. For example, the Apple Watch can change the volume and tracks when the user is simultaneously using other Apple products. Also, the watches can display notifications to alert the user of important activities or events. For instance, the latest Apple Watch includes a fall sensor. If the user falls, the watch will detect it and send notifications. If the user doesn’t respond, the watch will assume they’re injured and will alert authorities. Not to mention, the watches can include a GPS and voice dictation.

With this trend on the rise, are these watches being used to their full potential or are they just the latest fashion statement?

An all campus survey was sent out to find out if Grand View students and staff are using smartwatches as their tool or as an accessory. The survey received 90 responses between students and faculty.

The survey showed that 92 percent of the respondents were students and 8 percent were staff members. Although there are variety of smartwatches, the majority of the respondents own apple watches, 68.89 percent to be precise. According to the survey there were 17.78 percent of Fitbit owners, 2.22 percent percent of Samsung watch owners and 11.11 percent were unidentified. Not to mention the 5.56 percent of the respondents that said they did not own a smartwatch.

In addition, the survey uncovered the people mainly use their watches for telling time (95.60 percent), exercise (90 percent), and texting and calling purpose (76.92 percent).

Hanna Wall, a Fitbit user, said that she mainly uses for exercise, tracking steps and staying motivated in her daily life.

Maddie Green, an owner of the Apple Series 3 smartwatch, also said that she uses it to more accurately track her activities on the watch than the phone itself.

Besides tracking exercise, smartwatch owners do things on their watch instead of having to use their phones.

Tom Le, who is an owner of the Mobvoi Ticwatch E, said that it’s more efficient and more convenient to use than a phone to pull out from a pocket.

“I wanted it for its fitness purposes, aesthetic purposes and it’s great to have so I do not look like I am on my phone all the time,” an anonymous survey respondent said.

Some users have even become so dependent on their watches that they lose their phones. Many use a feature on their watch to help them search.

“I like the ‘Find My iPhone’ feature. If I lose my phone I can ping it instantly from my watch,” an anonymous survey respondents said. “I love that I can track my calories burned, steps taken, workout minutes, etc.”

Not only do the watch owners use their products to its full capability, most also use their watch to complement their outfits.

“It’s also kind of like fashion. I can change out the bands and stuff too… I change the band two or three times a week,” Wall said.

When survey takers where asked why they choose their watch brand, more than 75 percent of respondents said it was for higher quality. Even though the watches can be somewhat pricey, majority of owners love their watches.Therefore, many would buy a newer model in the future.

“It’s nice to have an Apple Watch as well to sync with the rest of my products, I think it was worth it in that sense,” Green said. “I am like super dependent on it right now so I don’t know what I was doing before… but yeah I think I would consider upgrading it.”

In the end Grand View students and staff mainly use their smartwatch as a way to get things done quickly, stay in shape, and being fashionable. So the answer to the big question is that smartwatches are being used both as tools and as fashion statements.